Chapter 22: Innovations 21
'When Cambyses learned that Egyptian women were superior to others when it came to sexual intercourse, he sent to Amasis, the Egyptian king, asking for one of his daughters.' - Ctesias of Cnidus
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The smooth running of the Persian empire was facilitated by an excellent infrastructure, the most sophisticated of any ancient civilization. First-rate roads connected the main satrapal centers of the empire with the imperial core, thereby allowing the Achaemenids a way to maintain control over conquered provinces.
The most important of these highways was the Royal Road, which ran for a staggering 2,400 kilometers (1500 miles). The road connected Susa and Persepolis, which in turn connected to Ecbatana and to Zariaspa, Bactria. The roads were all designed to interconnect with rivers, canals, and trails, as well as ports and anchorages for sea travel. Together, they made the Persian transportation system the wonder of the age.
Road stations were set up in twenty-eight-kilometer intervals, for weary travelers to rest. In the courtyard of one of these way stations, sat Artaxerxes. The entire station had been quartered off by royal guards, and inside the courtyard were many nobles from across the empire, having gathered to converse and dine with the king.
The station had mud-bricked walls, finely worked columns, and porticoes. With palm trees providing the group shade, it painted a picture of leisure. However, the conversation the men were having was anything but.
"My King, the latest news of Bactria." Ur, the head of the intelligence organization EoK, said. Handing over a clay tablet with Old Persian cuneiform on its surface. Reading the tablet, Artaxerxes passes it to his chief advisors to provide their opinion:
'Armies have been marshaled, numbering 50,000. Hystaspes has declined the summons to Persepolis'
Reading these words, the nobleman surrounding Artaxerxe broke out in a debate. "It's obvious now that Hystaspes is in open rebellion" A minister spoke.
"He would have been a fool to accept the invitation anyway, this was a predetermined conclusion," Themistocles said.
"When we arrive at Persepolis, I want my father immediately put to rest in his tomb -- Naqsh-e Rustam -- and all the appropriate ceremonials to be undertaken. Hystaspes won't make a move during father's funeral." Artaxerxes announced. It had been a few weeks since the court's departure from Susa, and they were nearly at Persepolis. With them, marched an army summing up to 50,000.
As they spoke, more men were being conscripted and trained in combat formations recently introduced by Artaxerxes. Persian tactics primarily had four stages, the archers, who wielded longbows, would fire waves of arrows before the battle, attempting to cut the enemy numbers down prior to battle. The cavalry would then attempt to run into the enemy and sever communications between generals and soldiers. The infantry would then proceed to attack the disoriented soldiers, subsequently weakened from the previous attacks.
There was also an assortment of war elephants, chariots, and of course, the 10,000 elite immortals. Together with these troops, Artaxerxes was confident in his current military strength to defeat his brother's forces.
Having talked enough about the situation with his brother, Artaxerxes asked if there were any more matters he should be made aware of. " I have a matter to bring forward my King" The man who spoke was Dauma, minister of agriculture.
Nodding for him to continue, Artaxerxes listened to what the man had to say. " For the past several years, the empire has failed to maintain sufficient foodstuffs to provide for the people. This has led to a famine that has grown quite severely, and now with even more taxes imposed on satrapies to provide for the army maintenance, I fear the famine will soon grow out of control."
Continuing, Dauma said nervously, "This is especially the case in outer satrapies, such as Phrygia and Egypt, who are taxed particularly mercilessly."
"Nonsense!" One of the nobles spoke out, an Achaemenid member of high standing. "Those barbarians should be privileged to be a part of the empire, it is only right they pay taxes reflecting their station." He looked around at the men standing, head held high in pride, finding several other Persian nobles who thought the same.
"Yes, it's only right they pay their due!"
"Barbarians should thank the Kings generosity!"
"Ahuramazda wills it!"
The nobles and ministers parroted after one another, denouncing Dauma for mentioning such information to the King. "Enough."
With these words, the entire courtyard fell silent, Artaxerxes, King of Kings, had spoken. Pointing to one of his scribes, Artaxerxes beckoned for him to hand him a piece of paper. Receiving the piece of papyrus, Artaxerxes began to write.
The surrounding men, confused, could only wait in silence as their King wrote. After a few minutes, Artaxerxes handed the paper to Dauma.
Reading the paper, Dauma mumbled aloud, "Heavy plow...watermills....harrow... triennial crop rotation... what is all this, my King?"
Artaxerxes, responded simply, "The tools should make enough sense in their images. As for the watermill, by generating energy, the mill will grind grain into flour as well as some other useful advances. As for the crop rotations, fields will be able to produce two harvests every three years, rather than the current one of every two years."
Dumbfounded, Dauma was at a loss for words. Meanwhile, the other nobles were intrigued by the drawings but didn't pay them any mind, after all, to them everything was fine the way it was. As Dauma was staring at the papyrus in his hands in bewilderment, Artaxerxes decided to speak, "By the grace of Ahuramazda, I had a vision of these innovations and can guarantee their effectiveness."
Hearing this, a reverent look overtook a majority of the men in the hall, each one giving a quick prayer to their chief god, Ahuramazda, the Wise Lord. "I see... very well my King, I shall meet with some experts and after testing, produce some for use."
Artaxerxes, hearing this, was dissatisfied. "No, order a royal decree to the people that it will be mandatory to put these new tools and techniques to use as soon as possible." Nodding his head and bowing in compliance, Dauma said, "Yes, as you say, my King."
After saying this, Dauma, the minister of agriculture, quickly dismissed himself and went to work. Having finished his last meeting, Artaxerxes decided it was time to go to sleep. Walking out of the way station and giving a large amount of gold to the owner as a token of thanks, Artaxerxes went to his massive tent in the center of the cavalcade's encampment.
The tent stood at a ridiculous 20 meters, inside it was large enough to fit a few hundred sofas. Silks and drapes of incalculable wealth littered the floor and hang from the circled roof, giving an aura of majesty. Inside the tent, Artaxerxes saw his wife, Damaspia, naked and laying on the massive bed.
Smiling, Artaxerxes joined his wife in bed and momentarily decided to forget his troubles and focus on the beautiful woman in front of him.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Blitzo
Blitzo Army innovations will be mentioned during war time.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone